RT Journal
A1 JACOBS, JOSHUA J.
A1 GILBERT, JEREMY L.
A1 URBAN, ROBERT M.
T1 Current Concepts Review - Corrosion of Metal Orthopaedic Implants*
JF The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery
JO The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery
YR 1998
FD February 1
VO 80
IS 2
SP 268
OP 82
DO 
UL http://dx.doi.org/
AB 
In situ degradation of metal-alloy implants is undesirable for two reasons: the degradation process may decrease the structural integrity of the implant, and the release of degradation products may elicit an adverse biological reaction in the host. Degradation may result from electrochemical dissolution phenomena, wear, or a synergistic combination of the two. Electrochemical processes may include generalized corrosion, uniformly affecting the entire surface of the implant, and localized corrosion, affecting either regions of the device that are shielded from the tissue fluids (crevice corrosion) or seemingly random sites on the surface (pitting corrosion). Electrochemical and mechanical processes (for example, stress corrosion cracking, corrosion fatigue, and fretting corrosion) may interact, causing premature structural failure and accelerated release of metal particles and ions.